Bring a fresh look to your kitchen and bathroom by giving the tiles a new coat of paint
Introduction
Are you tired of the old tiles in your bathroom or kitchen? Then you can either lay new tiles – which is both time consuming and expensive – or you can take the much easier route and paint the existing tiles. You’ll end up with a modern, trendy kitchen or bathroom designed just the way you want it – without breaking a sweat.
It should go without saying that your safety is paramount at every stage of the project. Make sure you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself. You can find everything you need to know about the protective clothing required for each type of task in our guide.
- microfibre paint roller
- bucket
- Cleaning cloth
- Surface cleaner
- Masking tape
- Plastic sheet
- Tile paint
Let's go - step by step
Cleaning the tiles
You need: Cleaning cloth, Surface cleaner
Before you can paint your tiles, they need to be thoroughly cleaned until they are completely free of dust and grease. Use a cloth and a suitable surface cleaner. If you notice that any of the grout is loose or damaged, we recommend replacing it first. Carefully scrape out the loose or damaged section with a box knife, and then fill the gap with fresh grout or a grout repair kit. Unfortunately, you will have to wait for the new grout to dry completely after you’ve replaced it.
A word of caution: Paint does not adhere to silicone. Silicone grout must be completely removed and replaced with normal grout before you start painting.
Sanding the tiles
You need: Random orbit sander
It’s worth sanding the tiles first to make sure the surfaces are as well prepared as can be. Use a random orbital sander with very fine sandpaper (240 grit) or a fine sanding fleece. Make sure that the entire surface is roughened evenly. This will allow the paint to be absorbed better and more evenly into the base surface later, meaning it will last longer.
Keep in mind: once you’ve finished sanding the surfaces, you need to clean the tiles again with the surface cleaner.
Masking off the area
You need: Masking tape, Plastic sheet
Once the base surface has been prepared, start masking off the area you plan to paint. First, mask the wall above your tiles with masking tape. Make sure that you have placed the tape accurately. Do the same on the other three sides. Once this first layer of tape is in place, you can attach the protective film for the wall.
You’re almost ready to start painting. Before you start, however, we recommend applying a primer. Once you’ve done that, take a break – leave the primer to dry for about 24 hours.
There are two ways you can then paint your tiles:
1. Painting tiles with a paint roller
You need: bucket, paint roller, Tile paint
To paint the tiles with a paint roller, pour the paint in a bucket (image 1). Soak your paint roller in the paint for long enough for it to absorb, wipe the roller on the edge of the bucket and quickly start to paint the wall. Apply the paint from top to bottom. This prevents paint from flowing onto surfaces that you have already painted (image 2).
Finished with the first coat? Then it’s time to do a second one. This time, however, paint horizontally (image 3). This cross pass will ensure that the paint is optimally and evenly distributed on your tiled wall.
2. Painting tiles with a paint spray system
You need: Paint spray system
Your other option for painting tiles is to use a paint spray system. All you have to do is fill the container with paint (image 1) and then apply it evenly with the spacing and, if necessary, mixture recommended by the manufacturer (image 2). This method also allows to do a cross pass, giving you an even colouring and uniform coverage. Once the paint has dried properly, you can remove the masking tape and enjoy your newly redesigned tiled wall.